Chrysanthemum plant named `Albany`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Albany particularly characterized by its flat to slightly incurved capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; white ray floret color with a slight cream center of the flower; diameter across face of capitulum of 79 to 89 mm when fully opened; flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 52 to 57 days after start of short days; flowering response in Bogota, Colombia is 61 to 63 days after start of short days; plant height is 76 to 104 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 to 18 long days prior to start of short days; height is 104 to 112 cm when grown in Bogota, Colombia with 21 to 22 long days prior to start of short days; peduncle length of the first and the fourth laterals at flowering after removing the apical bud is 8 to 10 cm and 10 to 15 cm when grown in Salinas and in Bogota, Colombia; production of 9 to 12 laterals, each producing one terminal flower when grown in Salinas; production is 7 to 9 laterals when grown in Bogota, Colombia; and uniform flowering in year round flowerings.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Albany.

Albany, identified as 0517 (91-L116002), was originated from a cross made by Leon Glicenstein in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif., in 1991.

The female parent of Albany was an unnamed seedling, identified as 1135 (85-248002) and described as a flat decorative cut mum. The female parent was discarded from all programs after seed production on this female parent was completed.

The male parent of Albany was an unnamed seedling, identified as 6597 (86-379001) and described as a yellow-bronze pot mum with a quilled decorative flower type and a diameter of capitulum of 105 to 108 mm when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum.

Albany was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Leon Glicenstein in January 1992, in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Albany was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March of 1992 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under spervision of Leon Glicenstein.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Albany are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. Albany has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., and near Bogota, Colombia, South America under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Albany, which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat to slightly incurved capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. White ray floret color with a slight cream center of the flower.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 79 to 89 mm when fully opened.

5. Flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 52 to 57 days after start of short days. Flowering response in Bogota, Colombia is 61 to 63 days after start of short days.

6. Plant height is 76 to 104 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 to 18 long days prior to start of short days; height is 104 to 112 cm when grown in Bogota, Colombia with 21 to 22 long days prior to start of short days.

7. Peduncle length of the first and the fourth laterals at flowering after removing the apical bud is 8 to 10 cm and 10 to 15 cm when grown in Salinas and in Bogota, Colombia.

8. Production of 9 to 12 laterals, each producing one terminal flower when grown in Salinas. Production is 7 to 9 laterals when grown in Bogota, Colombia.

9. Uniform flowering in year round flowerings.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of Albany, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Albany grown as a single stem spray cut mum.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the infloresence of Albany.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and under sides of the leaves of Albany at 3 stages of development (mature, intermediate and immature). In sheets 2 and 3 a measuring tape in centimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Albany is the unpatented but well known cultivar Polaris. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of Albany with the same characteristics of Polaris. Similar traits are capitulum form and type, with the capitulum form of Albany slightly more incurved than the flat capitulum form of Polaris. The ray floret color of Albany and Polaris is comparable, with Albany having a white ray floret color with a slight cream center of the flower, while the ray floret of Polaris is described as creamy white. When compared with Polaris, Albany has a larger diameter of capitulum, a slower flowering response in Salinas, a faster flowering response in Bogota, and shorter peduncles. Albany needs more long days to reach commercial plant height than Polaris. Since both cultivars have been tested with different long days, no direct comparison of plant height with the same number of long days is available.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a single stem spray cut mum in Salinas, Calif. on Jun. 29, 1995.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Albany.

Commercial.--Flat decorative spray cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat to slightly incurved.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--79 to 89 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White with slight cream center of the flower.

Color (upper surface).--155D, with center of flower closest to 4D.

Color (under surface).--11D.

Shape.--Cross-section concave, longitudinal section of outer ray florets concave.

C. Corolla of disc florets

Color (mature).--Closest to 14A.

Color (immature).--Closest to 144A.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant to no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--is 76 to 104 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 to 18 long days prior to start of short days; height is 104 to 112 cm when grown in Bogota, Colombia with 21 to 22 long days prior to start of short days.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed, strongly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHARACTERISTIC ALBANY        POLARIS                                           ______________________________________                                         Ray floret color                                                                              White with slight                                                                            Creamy white                                                     cream center                                                    Capitulum form and type                                                                       Flat decorative                                                                              Flat decorative                                   Diameter across face                                                                          79 to 89 mm   76 to 83 mm                                       of capitulum                                                                   Flowering response                                                             in Salinas     52 to 57 days 51 to 53 days                                     in Bogota      61 to 63 days 69 to 73 days                                     Peduncle length                                                                1st lateral Salinas                                                                           8 to 10 cm    14 to 15 cm                                       4th lateral Salinas                                                                           10 to 15 cm   18 to 20 cm                                       1st lateral Bogota                                                                            8 to 10 cm    15 to 18 cm                                       4th lateral Bogota                                                                            10 to 15 cm   20 to 23 cm                                       ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                     STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                     AND IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA                                                        ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Albany, as described and illustrated. 